‘Totally deserved’: Emil Krafth hails Chris Wood ‘working so hard’ in Newcastle training

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Emil Krafth has told Chronicle Live that Chris Wood ‘totally deserved’ his maiden St James’ Park goal against Wolves as the Newcastle United forward is ‘working so hard’ in training.

Eddie Howe raided Burnley to deprive a potential relegation rival of their main striker and fill a void in the Toon squad by signing Wood in January. The boss triggered a £25m clause in the New Zealand star’s contract at Turf Moor after a calf injury sidelined Callum Wilson.

Yet despite missing the club’s last 12 Premier League games, Wilson remains United’s top goalscorer this season with six. Allan Saint-Maximin has the next most with five, ahead of Wood, Fabian Schar, Ryan Fraser, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Jonjo Shelvey and Kieran Tripper.

All seven have struck twice in the top-flight so far this term, with it taking Wood 12 games. The 30-year-old scored his maiden effort in black-and-white at Southampton on March 10. But needed a penalty at home to Wolves last Friday to open his account at St James’ Park.

Wood used his nous to buy the spot-kick by flicking the ball away as Jose Sa rushed off his line. He then planted his foot to ensure the contact, while the resulting conversion brought a 1-0 win. Now, Newcastle sit 10 points clear of Burnley in 18th-place and the drop zone.

Emil Krafth hails Chris Wood for ‘working so hard’ in Newcastle training

Wood thrilled Krafth by scoring his maiden home Newcastle goal, as the forward has stood out to the full-back since moving to Tyneside with his endless determination in training.

“Chris Wood totally deserved that moment,” Krafth said. “He’s been working so hard for his goals, so I was very pleased for him – as were the rest of the group. Again, we’re all teammates and are all pushing each other every game. That’s exactly how it should be.”

Krafth has featured in seven of Wood’s 12 Newcastle appearances to date after Trippier fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. The club has only lost once when both have featured – losing 1-0 at Everton – to five wins plus February’s 1-1 draw at West Ham.